Friday, May 28, 2010

B*N*S*N1

Modular school build saves time, cash

BALAD – In an attempt to provide as many new schools as possible for the children of Iraq, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is turning to modular construction to save time and money.


The USACE has already served as the construction management partner on more than 1,100 school construction projects throughout Iraq, but some areas are still in dire need of primary and secondary schools to build on Iraq’s academic foundation for future success.

The dilemma is brick and mortar schools take more than a year to construct, so USACE engineers from the Balad Resident Office are modifying construction techniques to build four modular schools in the Salahuddin province.

The advantages of modular, prefabricated construction is that contractors can build an eight-room schoolhouse in just 120 days at a fraction of the cost. But prefabrication doesn’t mean temporary, as the structures are engineered to last 20-years.

Maj. Paul Patterson, the BRO officer-in-charge, says modular school construction offers two distinct advantages.

"The speed with which the project can be completed is an important consideration… “ he said. "It's also easier to ensure a consistent quality for the project across the province without dealing with the variability you get with the local labor pool when constructing concrete masonry unit type buildings."


Read more here.

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